Book Description

Well-known author and consultant Howard Shenson shows consultants, educators and trainers how to enter and flourish in the lucrative and fast-growing seminar business--an estimated 3-to-4 billion industry. Covers everything from choosing a topic and developing a program to targeting a market, pricing and promotion. Provides practical details on selecting facilities, writing brochures, advertising, using direct mail, add-on materials and much more.Features checklists, tables and sample forms that help make planning easy and efficient. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great information
This book is one of the important books on this topic. I have included this book in my personal library and have referred many people to this book.

Early in my business I provided "public" seminars and this book provided some great advice and tips.

Lenny Laskowski, professional speaker and author of the book, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" (Warner Books)

Reference Only
This book has lots of really good information. This is a great reference tool.

Good, but it depends.
By "depends" I mean your level of experience. If you're new at seminars and workshops this book is a solid goldmine of basic information. Shenson did a good job of providing the theories and the very practical. Lots of forms and check off lists. Good basic stuff. If, on the other hand, you have experience - it's a bit elementary, and a bit dated. With a 1990 copyright, the book pre-dates PowerPoint for example. The focus of the material is definitely on the promotion of the workshop - not the development. While there's much it doesn't speak to - it's a good starter for the novice. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The best resource you can buy if your job requires you to know how to use Crystal Reports is Seagate Crystal Reports 7 for Dummies--it will get you up to speed on the latest version of Crystal Reports in a hurry. In this book, you'll learn everything you need to know about Crystal Reports without the time and expense involved in taking a class.

Wolf gives a crash course in the basics. He quickly and clearly explains what a table is; then he shows how to extract information from one and present that information as a report. Readers find out how to add, delete, and arrange report fields, and then they learn how to format reports attractively once the needed data is present. Wolf uses the Extreme database--which ships with Crystal Reports--in many of his examples, so it's easy to precisely follow his demonstrations on your own machine before delving into your enterprise's database.

Wolf shows how to put together a tailored database query with the help of the Select Expert, explaining the purpose of each of the Expert's options in the process. Readers find out how to make data more useful by ordering it, performing calculations on it (you'll find excellent documentation of the Crystal Formula reporting language), and creating graphics based on it. There's also information on performing high-level data analysis with cross-tabs and relational joins. --David Wall ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very nice book on Crystal Reports
This book was a welcome break from the manual that comes with version 7.0. Very easy to understand the basics and it also contains alot of other stuff. I needed to create some reports quickly and this book really helped.

Crystal reports 7 - made very easy
The best on the market you will find. The book is very easy to follow and chapters are very nicely arranged. Good work.

Seagate Crystal Reports 7 for Dummies
This book was an excellent start for Crystal. I can actually read the huge technical Crystal Report books and understand what they are reffering to. It helped open the door to a whole new world.

A Great Book for people in a hurry
The company i work for purchased Crystal Reports for a report conversion proyect and i had never used this software before and in couple of hours i was creating some basic to complicated reports. I recomend this book for anyne who need to get hands on fast.

I was using Crystal Reports in less than an hour!
My company purchased Crystal Reports as the main utility for pulling data from our large relational database. I had never seen Crystal before much less used it. I got my hands on this book today at 12:30 p.m. By 1:17, I was pulling data and manipulating reports like a pro. I would recommend this book to anybody who has to learn Crystal in a hurry. ... Read more

Book Description

In the everyday work world, most professionals are on their own when it comes to writing reports, memos, proposals, and other necessary correspondence. The Business Style Handbook is a practical and comprehensive guide that focuses specifically on the writing issues that frequently arise on the job. Insights and feedback from Fortune 500 communications executives provide tips and advice on improving writing style and effectiveness, while more than 1,200 alphabetized entries cover the essentials of style and usage, grammatical concepts, and more.

Reviews (15)

A writing handbook with cultural and social backgrounds
A while ago, a friend asked me to review some business correspondence when I was in Beijing. Subsequently, I always thought that it would be helpful to find him some business writing reference books. When I came across The Business Style Handbook (in both English and Chinese), I recommended them to my friend.

The book is very practical. It differs from a regular dictionary in that it contains not only definitions for terms but also their cultural and social backgrounds. Look for the references for items such as 360-degree review, 401(k) or cookie. They are very helpful to people with different language backgrounds. Another advantage is the included examples, such as how to properly use kudos. Additionally, the first five chapters provide an excellent summary on modern business writing. In all, no matter it is for a beginner or as a reference, the book provides a lot of value to its readers.

The Business Style Handbook
An invaluable tool. I just started back in the workplace after an absence of many years and this book put me right back on the business track. It even helped my son with the writing of his resume. Thanks for all the useful information.

Precise and Easy.
I write on tight deadlines and can't afford to make mistakes in the work I produce. This book is a big help. It is a valued resource for questions on grammar, spelling and pronunciation. And it is written in plain english; no need to wade through discussions on the fine points of grammar. It also makes a great gift.

Worth Recommending - especially to those who report to you
I spend a good deal of time at work writing documents and e-mails. When I have questions about how to write something correctly, The Business Style Handbook is my reference tool of first resort. Its focus on business and finance is invaluable. Where else could I quickly find out whether to use a hyphen in enterprise-wide or parentheses with 401 (k)? The chapter on e-mail is also useful, as is the information from the Fortune 500.
It is now suggested reading for the employees in our Fortune 500 company.

Style - A to Z
As an owner of a small business, this book has been an enormous aid in "putting the company's best face forward." Our success often depends upon the image we project in all our written materials. This simple little book is a necessary tool for getting it right the first time. The entire staff keeps it handy at all times. Though our world is getting faster and more hetic, there is no need to sacrifice grace and eloquence in writing style - even in an email! Buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Strategies for binding customers to an organization--by determining the information they want and giving it to them

In 1993, Don Schultz showed marketers how to coordinate their organizations' entire communications programs with the seminalIntegrated Marketing Communications. InIMC--The Next Generation, Schultz offers a refined and updated approach to the IMC model, one that goes beyond the messages an organization chooses to send to encompass the information that the customer wishes to receive or have access to.

IMC--The Next Generation shows marketers how to build sustainable competitive advantage and ROI by combining and coordinating all methods through which buyers and sellers come together. Numerous cases and real-world examples reveal how to use today’s IMC model to:

• Integrate internal and external communications programs
• Influence customers at every contact point
• Build long-term brand relationships

Book Description

Successful management depends on the ability to quickly and effectively manage conflicts. Conflict Resolution includes hands-on information for effectively communicating with employees, disciplining and even terminating employees, understanding and using organizational politics, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Conflict Resolution
Successful management depends on the ability to quickly and effectively manage conflicts. Conflict Resolution includes hands-on information for effectively communicating with employees, disciplining and even terminating employees, understanding and using organizational politics, and more.
Successful management depends on the ability to manage conflicts, quickly and effectively. This book provides hands-on information for communicating with employees, disciplining and even terminating employees.
1. What's a Conflict? 2. So What if There's a Conflict? 3. How to Resolve Any Conflict. 4. How to Resolve a Conflict Between Others. 5. How to Resolve a Conflict Between Yourself and Another. 6. How to Resolve Team Conflict. 7. How to Mediate All the Time to Prevent Conflicts. 8. Strategic Management of Organizational Conflict.

Handy book for resolving conflicts.
This book gives the main points in simple language that anyone can understand. Further all the points and key terms a mediator needs to remember are hightlighted and enclosed in boxes on the relevant pages.

All points are explained with examples and simple cases.

I recommend this book for all who prepare for examination. This is a good book for quick reference.

Usable information
I found this book to be of tremendous value. Conflict Resolution is an easy to read resource that is full of practical information that can be applied immediately on the job. It is not only a must-have for managers and supervisors, but also an essential resource for anyone who would like to have more effective relationships and live a conflict free life. Daniel Dana writes with a friendly and often humorus style and it is clear that he has a vast knowledge of this topic. He has a great ability to take a complex subject and make it simple and easy to use with specific "how-to" steps, and that really makes this book valuable to me. I have now successfully used the resolution approaches outlined in this book both in my profession as a consultant and trainer, and in a family conflict situation that was causing a lot of pain. Additionally, the ideas in this book have worked for me in both one-on-one conflicts and group conflicts. The bottom line - this works.

Don Blue
I found it a as must have for managers, especially new managers. It give a simple easy to use method of dealing with conflict. Can be used in your job, community, and hope. ... Read more

Book Description

Economics: Principles and Policy remains a proven leader in the world of economics. Since introducing the aggregate supply/aggregate demand model as a fundamental tool for learning economics over two decades ago, William J. Baumol and Alan S. Blinder continue to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to apply modern economics to their world--now and in the future. This is all the more true today, as the U.S. economy enters its first recession in more than a decade. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Quintessential good introduction
I used this book as my first introduction to economics, and even many years after having read it I continue to use it as a source of reference to the most simple concepts of economics. It has the very best simple explanations of economic principles that I have ever seen. It is filled with interesting stories that bring these principles to the real world, showing a novice the potential power of these ideas. This is Economics 101 at its best.

It's mainstream economics myths and legends
I didn't buy the book. I looked at some parts to verify a critique by others I read. I found this quote:

"So while saving may pave the road to riches for an individual, if the nation as a whole decides to save more, the result may be poverty for all!"

This thinking is flawed. After all, true savings means that we have put aside something we created (instead of consuming it) that someone can now use to sustain themselves while they create new products and jobs for those who were laid off from unprofitable businesses. Without these savings, we would not be able to survive to produce more. And if we don't, ourselves, produce more than we consume, then where will all the new businesses get their resources to run their new business (before it starts to produce anything).

As usual, these writers of mainstream economics don't seem able to follow through with a chain of events. It's as though when someone saves a dollar's worth of some product, it is always burried and lost to human kind. These authors would have us continue to consume everything around us without any regard for new production. Somehow this would result in less proverty.

Unless you are forced to buy this book for a course in Economics, you would be better off looking elsewhere. Better yet, find a better course in economics, unless you are only interested in working for some organization that feeds itself by spreading false economic theory.

full of the economic wisdom
I am teaching economics and have read the textbooks written by Stiglitz, Mankiw, Samuelson etc.,but I think this is the best.It not only explains the elements of economics in plain words,but also convey lots of incisive insights which we should keep in mind when we tackle economic problems. I found Baumol and Blinder very instructive as well as interesting.

Baumol and Blinder
Found the authors to not mince words - got to the point, concise, explained concepts visually and verbally. Excellent text for an undergrad beginning Econ class. Used it as an undergrad and continue to recommend. Updated version refines Micro theory, which was necessary.

Don't buy!
The author does a good job of exlpaining Economics, Priciples and Policy. But, his organizational skills are limited. The chapters are out of order in my opinion. ... Read more

Book Description

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" not only can help you break into the field of technical writing, it can help you learn what to do once you're there. It's not enough to discuss documentation in conceptual terms -- today's technical writer wants to know "What do I do first?" "How do I get the information?" and "What do I do with an empty computer screen, a product that's still being developed, and an engineer who's too busy to talk to me?" This book provides step-by-step instructions by people whohave "been there, done that," and know some ways to help.

Both new and experienced tech writers can benefit from tips on how to learn about technical topics, gather information, plan documentation sets, schedule milestones, and write clearly. For those of you who want to be technical writers but can't get your foot in the door, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" also gives help on what you need to do to give you an edge while you write your resume, hunt for a job, and interview. Once you're happily working, you can use the book for help on managing your career. An appendix contains a list of more than 50 Web sites devoted to technical writing and associated subjects. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Excellent guide for every aspiring technical writer
This book is compulsory reading for everyone planning a career as a technical writer. Written by authors who have both been working in the field since the 80s, it covers the whole subject area: from how to get started and marketing yourself, to what tech writers actually do and the various documents they produce, to working as a consultant and how to deal with the difficult bits of being a tech writer. The book contains an enormous amount of information and is very clearly arranged into appropriate sections: I personally was very impressed by the way the authors explain the whole process of producing a technical document from the concept stage to the finished guide and all the things that need to be taken into consideration. They also offer advice about the sort of personality and skills you need to be a successful technical writer, what technical tools you need to master and how you can best deal with all the various people you depend on to provide information for your documentation. All in all, I would say this book is a brilliant guide to its subject and also an entertaining read. It would be very hard to improve on this!

Not for idiots, complete or otherwise!
When I read "... Technical Writing" by Van Laan and Julian, I was glad I got past the title. I had to hire a tech writer to get some manuals done for our product. This book gave me the knowlege and confidence I needed to successfully get the job done.

Having read the book, I knew what to look for when interviewing candidates, and what to expect once I got someone on board. Highly recommended for anyone associated with Technical Writing, whether a seasoned writer, a tech writer wannabe, or a manager of writers (or manager wannabe, like I was).

A very thorough introduction to the field
I've always had a love for writing (fiction and nonfiction alike) but have always struggled a bit while creating technical documentation. I've been interested in technical writing and feel it would be a good addition to my repertoire of skills, which is why I wanted to find and read a good book on technical writing.

Based on many positive reviews here and on recommendations from others, I decided to start with this book and one other reference manual. I quickly read this book cover-to-cover and was very satisfied by its content. It was very thorough on covering every aspect of technical writing, even giving a glimpse of what a technical writer's daily life.

And the results? I've written two technical documents since which have both won high praise by co-workers. Even **I** am shocked at how well they look and how fluidly they read.

If you are interested in technical writing at all, don't hesitate to pick this book up. It is a great read and a fantastic reference manual for those who are just starting to get their feet wet. This book is highly recommended towards any technical writing beginner.

Easy to read, insightful, a great place to start
This book shoots straight and gives would be tech writers valuable insights. There are numerous practical tips and real-world advice on how to cope with technical publications work.

I particularly appreciate how the authors stressed the importance of content. Most technical writing books focus on processes, tools, and design issues - all of which are of marginal impact on the overall value of a document. The real value of technical docs is in the content, and this book encourages writers to learn and master the technologies and concepts they are documenting.

I highly recommend this book to anybody getting started in technical writing.

Don't Judge a Book by Its Title
Don't let the name fool you: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing" is anything but idiotic. The book offers a sensible, concise summary of the realities of tech-writing, and is peppered throughout with useful quotes from practicing technical writers.

I've given my copy to several people who have expressed an interest in technical writing, and all of them have found that the book answers their questions about what the profession is about. Probably no book can completely prepare anyone for a career, but, after reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, wannabes will have a solid idea of what to expect.

The book might be especially useful to anyone teaching an introductory technical writing course.

I highly recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Technical Writing, will continue to do so. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Reporting Technical Information
It would be more helpful to have the authors added more figures which are for illustrating the lessons and for examples. Thanks

Student Reviews Textbook
I used this book for my technical writing class. I found the readings straightforward. Sometimes, the actual chapters were too common sense. This book really shines in its use of examples. There are examples of each type of document. The handbook in the back is also a handy reference. ... Read more

Product Description

The Interaction method is a new, tested way to stop wasting time and get things done at meetings. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Comprehensive Book on Meetings!
Although at first glance I was skeptical, this book provided great insight into running a meeting that participants will actually enjoy and get something out of. It was not just a repeat of the things I already knew. After reading this book and implementing some of the ideas, people noticed the improvements from clear agendas which stated the purpose, to the approach used during the meeting to make sure we were all aligned and in agreement on what we were to achieve. I highly recommend this book.

why don't they teach this in business school?
of all the things that we learn in school, how to more effectively manage a meeting is not one of them, but should be. i wish i had read this many years ago. everyone who joins our team receives a copy in their first week.

the handbook of successful meetings
Doyle/Strauss have written the classic in meeting design, facilitation and management. It is easy to read and use; the standard guidbook that everyone uses.

What every manager needs
The Interaction method is what every person who attends or organises a meeting should read. Learn how to attend and hold effective meetings that start on time and finish on time. Learn how to be effective and reduce your working week.

The best source for facilitation technique.
I've used this book as a constant reference over the last six years while a facilitator for BPR and Change Management projects. Although it may lack a comprehensive array of practical exercies and techniques for all situations that arise in meetings or during facilitated focus group sessions, it is by far the best reference. Once you read, re-read, and fully understand the basics that Doyle and Straus are presenting, you can modify and add your own experience and methods. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disruption: Overturning Conventions and Shaking Up the Marketplace is veteranadvertising industry executive Jean-Marie Dru's iconoclastic proposal for replacing business-as-usualadvertising and marketing philosophies with radical new thinking. He contends that this shift in thoughtwill better position new and established products, brands, and services for the competitive battles to come.Dozens of laudable examples--from Oil of Olay and FedEx to TAG Heuer and Saturn--are fully examined,and suggestions for successfully employing their techniques are offered. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Well worth the read for advertising pros.
A very intelligent book on advertising. The underlying concept -- DISRUPTION! -- isn't exactly new. But the book takes a fresh look at just how some businesses -- and advertisers -- have broken away from the pack of mediocre, wasteful advertising. And the result has often been dramatic increases in sales. The book is provocative, and most importantly, it makes you THINK. You can walk away from this book with plenty of ideas for how to improve your own advertising. For those who have anything to do with advertising, it's well worth the read.

A Interesting and Inspiring Book to Read
This book is very well to dress for the concept ¡§Disruption¡¨ and how does it works. There are many examples, a lot of are from the author¡¦s own company BDDP, which are very useful for explain the concepts. Also he attaches the pictures of the related advertisement, which makes it easy to understand. And the author introduces step by step, from the basic knowledge of the real advertising world, background knowledge, and then gets into the Disruption. Even in the practice chapter, he integrates the Management skills (Planner), Knowledge Management (Disruption World Bank) which is very useful and clear for readers to apply the strategy.

It even talks about how to use Disruption in the Information Age, which creative department can take advantage from advance technology to interact, communicate and provoke inspiration. Also it would help to store, present ideas, for instance, CD-Rom. But somehow, it is kind of burdensome to make it to a whole chapter.

However, some of the concepts are too similar and vague that they seems only created for the book. And some examples are used to explain different concepts, which may result some confusion. For example, Starbucks Coffee was used to explain Additions of Business Discontinuities, but also used to explain Viewpoint in the Vision chapter, which are different concepts. I think it is becuase this concept of Disruption only came from 2 articles printed on Wall Street Journal and La Fegaro, and the effort to expand it into a book centainly decreased its power.

But over all, this book is well written and very interesting to read, you couldn¡¦t put it down after you started it. I had already purchased the sequel of it, "Beyond Disruption", I hope there will be some latest view points and maybe solutions for some problems occered in the market after this book.

All Time Must-Read
If you ask me, this book belongs right up there with "Positioning" as one of the all time must-reads, not only for marketers and advertising people, but really for anyone in business. And while it was published in the mid-90s, it couldn't be more relevant today. At heart, what Mr. Dru says (and then supports with many examples) is that the only path to genuine business success is to fly in the face of conventional thinking.

Mr. Dru's background is as the leader of a large advertising agency; so many of his examples come from this area. However, as he points out, taking the safe route in almost any business endeavor-product development, business process design or marketing communications-is often the most dangerous course. Because any business activity that fails to disrupt, i.e. break with the norm, is unlikely to attract much attention (or business). Which, at a time when revenue and earnings growth is stagnant for most firms, and the tools of financial engineering all but exhausted, would seem to point to this new "best practice". Read this book and then inject a massive amount of disruption into the thinking that powers your enterprise.

A little disruption.
There are a few great truths here spread out among a good bit of superfluous material, but the truths are worthy of a read. The essential gem of the book is properly communicated in the title. If you want to make an omelette, you have to break some eggs. The trick is knowing when to take a risk and then managing that risk to achieve a desirable outcome. That is the heart of the book.

Dru often digresses into lengthy asides and stories that don't always illustrate or relate to her point. For example, I now know more than I care to know about her views on the differences between the American and European consumer. (Frankly she contradicts herself here.) Naturally there are cultural nuances that must be taken into account with most any marketing assignment, but having said that, she should have moved on and made that the subject of another book.

The important thing, in marketing and in business, is to sell product. No one cares much about winning awards, except for the creative and art directors. In the end, the consumer votes with his dollar, yen, peso or euro. That's the award that really counts, and toward that end, a little 'disruption' is a good thing!

What the advertising business is supposed to be about
This is a classic which should be in the library of anyone serious about our craft - or business, if that's the way you see it. J-M Dru sets out to break the rules - systematically. Its a little like how Edward de Bono approaches thinking: he gives you random and therefore unusual starting points so your journey will be a different one. Disruption is challenging stuff. In fact, I'm not convinced that every ad can or should be disruptive. But I do believe we should be asking the question of ourselves every time and saying "yes" a whole lot more often. Some of the tools he includes can be put into practice easily and they work well. I recommend them to young people in our agency. You never stop learning in the ad game. Buy this book or [...]. ... Read more

Book Description

A Mentor's Companion is a book written for the active or prospective mentor.Its goal is to be a focused, practical guide into the texture of the mentoring interaction between mentor and protg.Combining a unique recipe of live dialogues between a mentor and her protg, with guidelines that glean the key learning from the dialogues, the book teaches the "moves" the mentor should consider in maximizing the learning possibilities for the protg. Each dialogue and summary is followed by a third course - menus of questions and statements from which the mentor can sample when preparing a mentoring conversation. .As a part of their mission, mentors give advice, but this book is not a"how to give advice" book.The concentration, instead, is on using oneself as a catalyst with the mentee (who is also referred to as "protege" or "partner").The mission of this book is to distinguish and dramatize the skills of the mentor-those probes, those challenges, those inquiries and provocative questions that will inspire thought, stimulate reflection, tap discovery, and generate a new intelligence in the protg.

The early chapters describe the mentoring process, the purpose of mentoring, what it is and what it isn't, and the kinds of skills necessary to develop as a mentor.The purpose of later chapters is to carry the mentor through the mentoring action itself, dramatizing it with examples, guidelines, andspecific menus of questions and inputs for interacting with the mentee.Each chapter features a different major activity one can expect to engage in with a protg:making contact and getting acquainted, working on problems, giving performance and behavioral feedback, making developmental assignments, and conducting after-action reviews.

This is probably not a "beach" book.It's also not a book the mentor will likely read from beginning to end-in fact, skipping around is recommended, using what is most relevant at the appropriate moment.It is, however, a valuable reference and guide for any aspect of the mentoring charge. A Mentor's Companion's vision is to accompany the mentor as he or she takes on the important challenge of helping others unlock their true potential. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Significant Mentoring Title
Mentoring is so important in the world today. Having a mentor, as this book details, helps people reach the next level in their careers. Mentoring is truly invaluable. A tough thing though is finding a mentor. Where does one look? Well now there is a place to both find a mentor and also be a mentor to share your knowledge. The site is Advance Mentoring, www.Advancementoring.com

You can search to find a mentor in any industry, or to be a mentor, or even both. Now the job of finding a mentor has gotten much easier. The site offers over a tremendous number of members from over 40 countries, so you are sure to find a mentor or a mentee. Good luck. http://www.advancementoring.com

Noah Cirincione, CEO
Advance Mentoring

Enlightening, Useful Guide to and Overview of Mentoring
In the introduction Larry Ambrose said that he wrote this book as a reference book and did not intend it to be read from cover to cover. In reading the entire book, though, I found it to be very enlightening. I'm sure that I will refer to it as a reference book many times.

A Mentor's Companion is written in a conversational manner -- with Chapters 2-6 beginning with an on-going mentoring scenario that unfolds throughout the chapters. After each scenario, a short chapter follows that delves deeper into the mentoring attributes touched on in the story. Larry Ambrose then shows notepads for the mentor's use and practical checklists that are incredibly helpful for anyone preparing to serve as a mentor. These notepads and checklists, I am sure, are the reference materials to which Mr. Ambrose refers in the Introduction. Each chapter's title page also has an insightful quote that sets the mood for the chapter.

Three of the main points of this book are the following:

1. The goal of true mentoring is the development of the mentee -- not necessarily the solution of specific problems. Larry Ambrose gives detailed examples of how to accomplish this task throughout the book.

2. True mentoring is a partnership -- in which both parties learn, grow, and discover more about themselves and their potential.

3. Honest feedback is extremely important. A mnemonic device shared in this book with regard to feedback is S.E.A.T. -- feedback should be Specific, Explicit, Achievable, and Timely. Larry Ambrose gives general guidelines to assist the mentor in framing feedback properly to benefit the mentee's (and the mentor's) development.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking at the mentoring process -- especially if looking into becoming a first-time mentor.

User Friendly Learning
The 'Companion' is a valuable , user friendly tool. I was sold on the book after the introduction, foreword and Chapters 1 and 2, and immediately ordered a copy for all the senior managers in our business unit.

The Pioneers of Mentoring
Individuals have the opportunity to learn from the pioneers, Perrone-Ambrose Associates, through 'A Mentor's Companion'. This book is a must for all those concerned with creating a dignified and inclusive work environment.

Today's Challenges
A Mentor's Companion offers a solution to two of the greatest challenges faced by organizations today - the cultivating of future leaders and the on-going, rapid development of the workforce. ... Read more

Book Description

An award-winning news anchor presents methods for better communication in any business environment

During her 20 years in broadcasting, award-winning news anchor Suzanne Bates conducted more than 10,000 interviews, during which she witnessed business leaders, politicians, and celebrities at their best and worst. Now a top CEO communication coach, Bates is renowned for her uncanny ability to transform even the shyest oratorical mouse into a public-speaking lion. In Speak Like a CEO, Bates:

• Reveals the secrets for communicating in any situation
• Describes simple techniques for acing speeches, presentations, media interviews, Q&A sessions, business meetings, and more
• Outlines self-improvement plans that can easily be customized to your needs
• Shares secrets from top leaders, including Mario Cuomo's technique for overcoming stage fright and Colin Powell's secret for projecting authenticity

Reviews (1)

Speak Like a CEO gets Standing Ovation
"As a speechwriter for past governors and other top executives, I know how important it is for business and political leaders to get their message across in a compelling and memorable way.Bates outlines the key essentials for delivering a powerful, well-received speech.Her hands-on instruction gives CEOs and other company managers practical suggestions on how they can improve their delivery, while also developing that authentic voice, which is the hallmark of all organizational leaders.The book is divided into three, easy-to-read parts: The Secrets, The Situations and the Strategies.Each combines instruction, humor and real-life situations that make the book both a useful business manual and fun to read.Bates' book is a must-read for anyone who wants to be a success in business, politics or life by becoming a great speaker." ... Read more

Book Description

Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers -- be it a business function, a meeting, or a cocktail party -- and felt uncomfortable?  In the NEW How to Work a Room, " The Mingling Maven" Susan RoAne provides the tools and techniques for savy socializing in all situations so that you are comfortable in any room.  She identifies the roadblocks that prevent us from meeting new people, developing new contacts, and establishing connections that build personal and professional relationships. Susan offers a practical remedy to overcome each roadblock. You will learn how to mix chutzpah with charm to start and end conversations smoothly, know when and how to use humor , and follow the simple rules of etiquette in an emerging manner. Incorporating a decade of feedback from hundreds of presentations, as well as the new chapters " How to Work A Virtual Room" and "How to Work the Techno Toy Room," How to Work a Room is a book that will change your life.

Reviews (21)

A good book with some common sense
I bought the first edition of this book and just finished reading it. I found the first 4 chapters very helpful. The first chapter deals with roadblocks that we have that prevent us from meeting and speaking to people. The Second chapter, focused on removing those road blocks. The Third chapter focused on the benefits of attending events. The fourth chapter on Charm & Chutzpah was more motivational.

I found That Ms Roane, does a good job of showing us roadblocks that we may have not even realized that we had. Once we have identified these issues we can go to work on removing them so that we can improve our business life. From the title of the book I was expecting a guide on manipulation. However, this book is far from that. It's mostly about presenting yourself in a positive light by showing interest in others while at the same time keeping focused on your goal of making business contacts.

In this regard it's a positive book, because let's face it, most of us can see through manipulation, or insincerity. I didn't find all of the book applied to me at this time. For instance the sections on trade shows. However, this doesn't diminish the book, because it's a book that can be constantly refered to through different stages of your business life. This book focuses on business, but the skills are transferable to your personal life as well.

Aslam Mohammed

Very Basic
This book will probably be helpful if you want an easy-to-read guide to the very basics of networking and socializing.

She lays out intuitive, easy-to-follow lists of rules and principles, such as how some of the manners you were taught as a child can become obstacles to meeting people, like, don't talk to strangers. And she perscribes some easy-to-remember, non-threatening tactics for overcoming these fears, such as questions like "I've never been to one of these meetings before. Is there always such a good turnout?"

But I found that most of her major points were fairly common sense. Is it really that helpful to know that arrogance, not listening and poor hygiene will impair your ability to meet people? Or that you should bring business cards to a professional event?

If you feel your social skills are really at ground zero and you need help getting started, this will be a useful guide. But if you're looking for more advanced techniques and ideas for to engage people and loosening yourself up, it's way too easy. It certainly didn't change my life.

I'm now reading Bernardo Carducci's book, "Shyness". It has a much more theoretical and holistic approach--I'll post a review on that book's page as soon as I finish it.

People who love people
Who would want to "work a room"? Someone trying to sell something, maybe? If you're not selling anything overtly, this book will not be of interest. I say overtly because, as someone once pointed out, we're all selling something, but we need not do so overtly or manifestly. But by our behavior. Actions and words and all. This book, and others like it, all have us looking outward for gratification, basically from other people, people "in the room." "In the room" can be a metaphor for the "in crowd." Do you want in with the in crowd? Maybe you'll learn some tools from this book. Then again, you might do better looking inward at yourself. Listen to one of the great modern inward-seekers, Vernon Howard (excuse the gender specificity, it's an old book): "A man owes nothing to any other human being on earth except to be himself, but since few see this, most men stagger under the burdensome debt of artificial behavior. It is a tragic illusion that we can do anything for others before we have done something for ourselves." The writer of "How to work a room" is essentially focusing on how to improve your artificial behavior. Diximus.

Good reminder list, but not well written
This is a decent book to remind us all of what we need to be doing. Although much of it is just common sense, seeing reminders doesn't hurt. There is nothing profound in it.

Unfortunately, it's not well written. This makes it somewhat painful to read and detracts from its credibility. For example, it's "chock full" of trite phrases and the inappropriate use of quotation marks. Both of these writing problems suggest that the author was not entirely comfortable with what she was saying. I still gave Ms. Roane the benefit of the doubt; perhaps she's more of a verbal person than a writer, and verbal communication is the main focus of the book.

WOAH - I wasted my money AND my time
I wish I could give this book less than a star because even 1 star is too generous for this book. The first chapter is quick to cite the important points in working a room (points that you can learn from just any other book on conversation) and the rest is just nonsensical repetition of the same facts again and again. All in all, the book has too many flaws and a too little new material to be of any value. ... Read more

Book Description

If you are given the responsibility of planning a meeting for your business, you need to make your company look good.This guide gives you suggestions for planning the budget, negotiating a space to meet, choosing a caterer, setting up the room, and planning programs.You will be able to produce an event that is organized and within your budget. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good book to understand meeting planning, but not events
This is a comprehensive introductory book for anyone starting out in the meeting planning industry. The title is a bit misleading (Meeting AND Event Planning) as there is very little information on event planning itself - about 10 pages. The event planning section mostly concentrates on the events that would be part of a meeting (golf tournament, fundraiser, final night gala, etc.) but doesn't go into great detail. There are, however, concepts and information presented about meeting planning (checklists, timelines, vendors etc.) that can be easily transferred to the event planning process.

If meeting planning has recently become part of your job responsibilities, this guide will help you understand the basics. If you are looking for information about becoming an independent meeting planner or event planner (i.e.: getting clients, starting your company) you might need to continue looking for other resources.

Overall the book is well written, has plenty of examples and explains the underlying concepts to organizing a meeting.

Absolutely necessary for starters
I think this is the best guide for event and meeting planners. there is a lot of source references (especially internet sources available for professional event planners or prospective event planners) It is fun and easy to follow. Everything is clearly explained. There is not too many jargon words used.
I am yet in the middle of the book and I can't wait to see the later parts of it. I am getting all the necessary information I need.

New to Meeting & Event Planning? Start with this book.
This book is a great value for any individual who is just starting out or think about joining the industry. For the seasoned professional you will find a few things you may not have thought about or simply forgot about. In addition, it's a great piece to give to your superiors to explain, in a fun way, what exactly you do. The book expresses that those in the industry are professionals and that we are much more than mere "party planners." At times it can be a little too cute, but with a title like The Complete Idiot's Guide to Meeting and Event Planning some leeway should be given. Again, its a great start for an introduction to the industry. I would recommend for additional information check into some established organizations such as Professionals Convention Management Association, PCMA; Meeting Professionals International, MPI; and the Convention Industry Council, CIC. These organizations offer additional materials, at a slightly higher cost, but worth investigating if you are interested in a career planning meeting and events. ... Read more

Book Description

Masters of Networking know that givers gain, that creating, maintaining, and serving a wide network leads to great business and personal rewards. Generating leads and referrals, building healthy relationships, and delivering value over the long term are at the heart of networking and are critical for anyone. Packed with valuable insights and personal examples from many of today's top networkers, this exciting book shows:

Why networking is the most effective marketing tool today.

The characteristics of the most successful networkers.

How the world's best networkers leverage and maintain their networks.

How you can build a successful networking lifestyle through effective communication, long-term partnerships, and word-of-mouth marketing. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A Resource of Great Value, Short and Long Term
For more than a decade, referral marketing has been a strong part of my business. I've done alot of reading on the topic and found Masters of Networking to be a great collection of real life experiences. It reinforced my commitment to word-of-mouth marketing and presented many new ideas. I applaud the work of Dr. Misner and Mr. Morgan, as they have put in a single document a wealth of information, in addition to the contributions they made to the book. Without question, Masters of Networking is a must read.

Essential Wisdom for Personal and Business Success
Ivan Misner and his Business Network International organization first alerted me to the power of networking, and I have benefited greatly by using the principles outlined in his previous book "The World's Best Known Marketing Secret." Now "Masters of Networking," to which I'm proud to have been a contributor, gives you both the motivation and the how-to for becoming a master networker yourself. Read this book and use the principles that have made so many of its contributors so successful and you'll find yourself achieving your most important goals. If you have children about to head off for college or the working world, it would be hard to imagine a more helpful and practical gift!

More like 2.5 Stars
I was a little surprised that most of the chapters were about how successful networking has been for people. I already agreed that networking would be helpful, so why try to convince me? The essays were helpful to illustrate some points, but the book could have been more concise. After a while the essays became annoying as you could have substituted any name and any profession. And, if there was one more reference to BNI, I would have...

I was about to give up on this book until I got to Chapter 9. There were some very helpful tips that pointed out what I was doing wrong and where I needed to improve. But as with anything, networking takes practice. I would check this out from the library before buying.

Such a great book to have
This is one of the must have book on your bookshelf. It is the first book that i haven't been able to close it and go to bed until i read it cover to cover. Although i had to refer to it again and again.

Where's the beef?
Masters of Networking offers some warm and inspirational stories, but fails to serve up meatier content. I found many stories about the greatness of networking, but few articles that offered effective strategies.

I also didn't like the books tendency to be repetitive to a fault. For example a lot of the articles tell you not to be a "bore." This is an important fact, but I am smart enough to get it the first twenty times.

I enjoyed this book, but it didn't help me much....although it did allow me to write a review with a lot of buts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This fifth edition of The Business Writer's Handbook consists of nearly 700 spiral-bound pages written with both business students and professionals in mind. (It is also available in a paper-bound version, but how nice to be able to lay the book flat on one's desk for ease of reference.) "Our focus," say the editors, "is on helping professionally oriented writers develop effective skills and strategies for communicating in a rapidly changing environment," and that they do. The entries, arranged alphabetically, are straightforward and to the point. Sandwiched between items addressing issues of English grammar and word usage are guides to writing résumés, resignation letters, and everything in between (e.g., abstracts, annual reports, e-mail, executive summaries, form letters, feasibility studies, memos, mission statements, proposals, and trade journal articles). Throughout the book, the point is made that good writing has a marked effect on business communications--a short, personal collection letter, for instance, "will usually motivate a customer to pay a bill faster than will a form letter." Since the book is written for the business professional, many of the usage and grammar issues are illustrated with business-related examples, but don't think that that means the book isn't any fun. Consider the first sentence in an entry for gobbledygook: "Gobbledygook is writing that suffers from an overdose of traits guaranteed to make it stuffy, pretentious, and wordy." --Jane Steinberg ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One the best guides for business writers
This A-Z reference book can answer lots of specific questions at each step in the writing process. It's on the short list of recommended resources in my book The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course in Business Writing and Communication.

sort of cheating
This book is exactly the same as "Handbook of Technical Writing" by same authors. The only difference is in the cover picture and colors. I think it is not a cool thing to sell the same book with two names without mentioning it. So if you have that one, do not buy this one. They are exactly the same.

Excellent Reference Book. A Companion for Every Desk at Work
This book has been one of the best tools I've recommended when training corporate executives on how to communicate more effectively. I enjoyed the special sections for English as a Second Language because my work is mainly done outside the United States.

Dear Sir/Madam
This book is great for showing you how the flow of any type of letter should be. It also shows you how to use proper grammar, punctuation, and writing style. A great book for anyone who ever needs to write a letter on any subject.

Best Writing Reference Ever
Even as a secretary, I still have to look things up that I haven't used in a while or to prove myself right.;)This is the perfect book for either of those purposes.(I have a lot of pet peeves as an admin.)Each entry is clear and to the point.This is *not* Chicago Manual of Style, this is every person's everyday reference for writing business or personal communication.My favorite entry, and the one I show people most often, is under Correspondence > Formats and Parts:

"Center the letter on the page vertically and horizontally."

For some reason, very few people do this.Mostly, it's because they don't know how to do it in MS Word, but that's no excuse.Neither is the excuse that no one else does it.This is the proper way, and one of the most important steps in formatting a professional looking letter.And, this is one of very few reference books that includes that little tidbit.To continue with the instruction:

"Although one-inch margins are the default standard in many wordprocessing programs, it is more important to estanblish a 'picture frame' of blank space surrounding the page of text.When you use organizational letterhead stationary, consider the bottom of the letterhead as the top edge of the paper.The left and right margins should be approximately equal; to give fuller appearance to very short letters, increase both margins to about an inch and a half.Use your computer's 'full-page' or 'print preview' feature to help you achieve proportion."

What can be simpler than that?(Going to a additional pages is a pain, as the vertical alignment should change to the top, but small price for looking like you know what you're doing.)If you know someone who writes for business or pleasure, they will appreciate this book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is the best book in the world!
For college students and those needing to know how to cite papers, write professional letters and reports...this is the best book in the world! It is the only college textbook that I did not sell back and I continue to use it to this day! I LOVE IT!! ... Read more

Book Description

Business Communication: Building Critical Skills by Locker and Kaczmarek represents a unique approach to a hands-on course. Written by the same author of Business and Administrative Communication, this completely new approach is devised and created with the assistance of a community college colleague. The innovative modular structure allows instructors to focus on specific skills and provides greater flexibility for short courses and different teaching approaches. While grounded in solid business communication fundamentals, this four-color paperback takes a strong workplace activity orientation which helps students connect what they learn to what they do or will do on the job. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I Like It
I found this book to be very effective. It's modular format made it easy to adapt to my classes, one on the Internet . . . no more taking page numbers from here and there. The examples were useful, with more on the Website. The students said it was good, too. I've used the old and the new versions. The new version has updated information and some new examples and assignments. I'm glad the "Polishing your Prose" assignments were kept. I assign these to students for self-study and see improvements in their grammar.

Great Book
Few business writing texts balance salient instruction with an easy-to-read writing style. Business Communication: Building Critical Skills does just that. None of the textbooks I've used scored as highly with the students for effectiveness and easy use as this book. As anyone who teaches writing knows, students frequently complain about the textbook regardless of how good it is. Usually those students are the ones that do poorly in the class. But this book satisfied just about everybody including me. The authors manage to cut all the unnecessary information books of this kind usually are crammed with and get to the point. The exercises are great and have real world application, and the many grammar refreshers helped improve my students' writing. It's especially good for non-native speakers of English. This book seems well designed for teachers and students, and I would recommend it to both groups. The book is also cheaper than many competing books, which makes it even more attractive for students on a tight budget, which is most students today.

Mistakes over Mistakes
Despite the fact that the book focuses on Business Communications, it still will not help students to achieve better communication skills (at least not with this issue). The book is full of logical and typological mistakes. Sorry but this will not work for a book that is trying to improve communication.

Well Done
One of the better business communication texts available. Students find it easier to read than the competitors'. I like the many supplements that come with it. I also like the module approach. I've taught many business communication classes and students almost always complain about the book. Not this one. I wouldn't recommend it if it didn't work. The cost is reasonable and the examples are good. One minor complaint: The web page for the book calls modules "chapters." Not a big deal compared to the many, many things that work in this book.

A Great Book!
I liked this book. It's easy to read and has lots of good examples. The best part is I can actually use what I learned. ... Read more

Book Description

The World Café is a flexible, easy-to-use process for fostering collaborative dialogue, sharing collective knowledge, and discovering new opportunities for action. World Café originators Juanita Brown and David Isaacs outline seven core design principles and provide practical tips and tools for convening and hosting "conversations that matter," even with very large groups. Each chapter features actual stories of Café dialogues from business, education, government, and community organizations across the globe, demonstrating how the World Café approach can be adapted to many different settings and cultures.Based on living systems thinking, this is a proven approach for fostering authentic dialogue and creating dynamic networks of conversation around your organization or community’s real work and critical questions––improving both personal relationships and people’s capacity to shape the future together. ... Read more

Reviews (11)